Pump adjusting mechanism



June 4 1968 R. G. BARTHELD ET Al. 3,386,385

PUMP ADJUST ING MECHANI SM Filed May l2, 1966 HHHH United States Patent O 3,386,385 PUMP ADIUSTING MECHANISM Robert G. Bartheld and Edward F. Cooney, Cincinnati,

Ohio, assignors to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed May 12, 1966, Ser. No. 549,631 2 Claims. (Cl. 103-87) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pump-motor Icombination having an adjusting mechanism including spring biasing means for adjusting the axial position of the pump-motor shaft.

This invention pertains to pump-motor combinations and more particularly to a simplified means for providing axial adjustment of the pump impeller in such combinations.

In many pump-motor combinations the axially aligned pump and motor shafts are connected together by a shaft coupling. In some combinations of this type the pump and motor shaft is a unitary element. In either of these arrangements it is necessary to provide for axial adjustment of the pump impeller so that its running clearance relative to the pump housing can be most efficiently positioned. Adjustment of the pump impeller becomes neces sary due to normal wear of the adjacent surfaces during normal pump operation. It is desirable to make the impeller adjustment without removing the pump from its operating position so that realignment of the pump connections is not necessary.

Prior yart constructions overcame this difficulty by providing a threaded portion on the upper end of the motor shaft. A nut turned onto this threaded portion of the motor shaft acts against a stationary portion of the motor housing to cause the pump impeller to move in either axial direction, depending on the rotation of the adjusting nut. Examples of this type of prior art can be found in U.S. 1,656,281, issued to M. E. Lane, Jan. 17, 1928 and U.S. 2,164,837, issued to G. T. Pfleger, July 4, 1939.

Applicants have improved on the prior art by providing a more simplified adjusting mechanism and also by including a spring bias on the pump-motor shaft to overcome axial thrust in one direction.

It is therefore the general object of the subject invention to provide a simplified mechanism to effect an axial adjustment of the pump impeller in a pump-motor combination.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide a pump-motor combination wherein a single adjusting collar absorbs axial thrust of the pump-motor shaft in one direction and a spring biased means absorbs axial thrust of the pump-motor shaft in the opposite direction.

A more specific object of the subject invention is to provide a pump-motor combination of the hereinbefore described -type wherein spring biasing means continually urge the pump-motor shaft in one direction and positive -adjusting means control the amount of movement of the pump-motor shaft due to the spring biased means.

These and other objects of the subject invention will become more fully apparent as the folowing description is read in light of the attached drawing showing ya front elevation, partially in section, of a pump-motor combination constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a motor housing generally designated 6 is constructed in the conventional manner having an annular stator housing 7 and upper and lower end housings 8 and 9 respectively, The end housings may be connected to the stator housing in any conventional manner such as by through bolts (not shown) as rice is well known in the art. A conventional stator winding is provided on the interior of the startor housing. A pump housing 11 is connected to the lower end housing 9 in any conventional manner.

For purposes of illustration, a single pump-motor shaft 12 is provided. It should be understood that each of the pump and motor could be provided with lan individual shaft coupled together without departing from the spirit of this invention. The shaft 12 is supported for rotation by means of spaced bearings 13 and 14 each as herein shown for purposes of illustration contained within the motor housing. The bearing 14 is supported by a collar 16 in the lower end housing 9 ina manner to permit axial movement of the shaft 12 with the bearings 14. The bearing 13 is connected to a Areduced portion on the shaft 12 and held against -axial movement relative to the shaft by la shoulde-r 17 and split ring 18. The bearing is supported in the upper end housing 8 in a manner which will be described more fully later. A motor rotor 9 is conventionally connected to the shaft 12 for rotation with the shaft. The rotor is operatively aligned with the motor stator. A pump impeller 21 is also conventionally connected to the lower end of the shaft 12 for rotation therewith.

The bearing 13 is suported in an annular machined surface in the end housing 8. A shoulder 22 is provided in the end housing immediately above the bearing 13. Spring biasing means 23 is provided between the shoulder 22 and the upper surface of the bearing 13. An annular collar 24 is provided about the shaft 12. This collar may be provided with yan annular ridge 26 which is in engagement with the lower surface of the bearing 13. The collar 24 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded bores which are aligned with openings through the upper end housing 8. Cap screws 27 pass through the openings in the end housing and are threadedly received in the threaded bores in the annular collar 24.

If it is desired to adjust the axial position of the impeller relative to the pump housing, it is merely necessary to remove cover plate 28 and loosen the cap screws 27. This permits the spring biasing means 23 to force the bearing 13 downward together with the shaft 12 resulting in a repositioning of the impeller 21. In actual practice, the screws 27 will be loosened until no further downward movement of the shaft is noted. At this point the impeller 21 has contacted the pump housing. It is then merely necessary to tighten the cap screws 27 until the pump-motor shaft can be turned freely. It is then known that the pump impeller has just cleared the pump housing, thereby providing a close running clearance between the impeller and the pump housing.

The spring biasing means 23 offers sufficient force to overcome any upward thrust of the shaft 12 which can be expected. With this arrangement the axial thrust on the shaft 12 is dissipated in one axial direction by the annular collar 24 and the other by the spring biasing means 23.

From the above description it can be seen that applicants have developed a very simplified means for providing axial adjustment of a pump-motor combination. Further-more, with applicants invention axial thrust of the motor shaft can be absorbed in either axial direction.

Although only one embodiment of the subject invention has been herein shown and described, other embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art after this description has been read and it is intended that -all such modifications as come within a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims be covered.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A pump-motor combination comprising: a motor housing; a pump housing; a pump impeller located in said pump housing; a rotor located in said motor housing; shaft means rotatably contained Within said housings connecting said rotor and impeller whereby rotation of said rotor drives said impeller, the connection between said shaft means and said impeller prohibiting relative axial movement therebetween; spring biasing means connected to one of said housings and said shaft means urging said shaft means in one axial direction; and adjusting means connected to one of said housings and said shaft means to hold said shaft means against the urging of said spring biasing means and selectively adjustable t0 move said shaft means in the opposite axial direction over the urging of said biasing means.

2. The pump-motor combination set forth in claim 1 and further comprising bearing means connected to the end of said shaft means remote from said impeller and supporting said shaft'means for rotation relative to said housings, the connection between said bearing and shaft means prohibiting relative axial movement therebetween and wherein said spring biasing means engages said bearing means on one side to urge s-aid shaft means in one direction and said adjusting means engages said bearing means on the opposite side to selectively limit movement of said shaft means by said biasing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,426 10/1907 Shields. 1,856,610 5/1932 Wintroath 103--102 ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

